Murder at Queen's Landing by Andrea Penrose

Author:Andrea Penrose [Penrose, Andrea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781496722843
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2020-06-12T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

“Thank you for agreeing to see me, milord.” Lady Cordelia peeled off her kidskin gloves as she stepped out from behind the pale-faced Higgins and entered the study. “Please forgive the rather lurid exaggeration, but I had to make sure I wouldn’t be turned away.”

She wasn’t quite so coolly composed as she wished to appear, noted Wrexford. Her hands were tremoring as she unknotted the strings of her bonnet and placed it on the side table.

Sheffield was staring in mute shock. Charlotte had settled back in her chair, schooling her expression to give nothing away.

“We’ve just ordered tea,” said the earl. “Do have a seat. It should be here in a moment.”

“Tea,” repeated Cordelia, her voice hovering between horror and amusement. “Oh, quite right. What would we do without that lifeblood from the East to lubricate all the everyday lies and subterfuges of Polite Society?”

“An interesting choice of words,” observed Wrexford.

She met his gaze without flinching. “I shall endeavor to explain them.”

“Do sit,” said Charlotte as the maid appeared with a large tray of refreshments. “There is something to be said for the power of rituals to break the ice, so to speak, and allow interactions to flow more smoothly.”

Sheffield still hadn’t taken his eyes off Cordelia. While she had studiously avoided any glance in his direction.

After a brief hesitation, Cordelia took a seat on the sofa.

The clink of porcelain punctuated soft splashes of liquid. Vapor curled up in silvery plumes as Charlotte passed around the cups. “By the by, how did you know we were here? We came to the professor’s cottage early this morning, only to find you gone.”

“I walked into the village last night to buy some bread and cheese and overheard a servant mention the earl was expecting guests. I added two and two together,” replied Cordelia. “We left before dawn, as we were planning to return to London—”

“Enough of pleasantries,” interrupted Sheffield, pushing aside his tea untasted. “What the devil are you doing here?”

Wrexford repressed a wince. The sparks crackling in his friend’s gaze were fierce enough to burn Satan to a cinder.

“I imagine that’s a rhetorical question, sir,” replied Cordelia. “But in a nutshell, I’ve come to ask for your help.”

“Why now?” demanded Sheffield

Cordelia carefully smoothed a section of her skirts into three equal pleats. “Because it’s taken me this long to unravel the lies within lies and follow the money,” she replied. “I’m now confident I know what evil is afoot, and Professor Sudler and I want to put an end to it. However, the men responsible for the scheme have threatened to ruin my brother and have him sent to prison unless we cooperate with them.”

She hesitated. “So the professor and I have, for now, agreed to perform the tasks they demand of us. Not simply to save Jamie, but also to give us time to identify the men in charge and bring them to justice.” Another tiny pause. “However, we can’t do it on our own.”

Sheffield narrowed his eyes. “How

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